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INDIANAPOLIS — When the 2019 NFL Draft began Thursday night, the Colts had a cluster of eight players they felt comfortable taking with their first-round pick, No. 26 overall.

The fact that Indianapolis ended up trading that pick to Washington for a second-round pick this year — No. 46 — and a second-round pick next year, allowing the Colts to get a head start on accumulating 2020 draft capital, does not mean that the rest of the NFL grabbed those eight players before the Colts went on the clock.

Far from it.

“Some of those guys are still on the board,” Ballard said.

Chris Ballard, the GM of the Colts, talks with media members about his team's prospects on Friday in the NFL draft, after trading their pick on Thursday.(Photo: Robert Scheer)

Ballard has always believed that the strength of this draft came after the glitz and glamour of the draft’s opening night.

“I think there’s still a lot of good players, not only at wideout and corner, but there’s still good (options) at safety, I still think there’s some d-linemen that are good,” Ballard said. “I think there are some ‘backers that look good. I still think there are good players in the second, third and fourth round that we’re going to get a chance to get our hands on.”

With that in mind, here’s a look at second-round possibilities for the Colts, broken down by positions of need.

Wide receiver

A.J. Brown, Ole Miss: Brown, who caught 160 passes in his final two seasons at Ole Miss, can do a little bit of everything. He has good size and strength at 6-0, 226 pounds, good speed and quickness, and projects as an ideal slot receiver who can make the tough catches and move the chains.

D.K. Metcalf, Ole Miss: The opposite of his teammate, Metcalf is a freakish physical specimen with great size and speed who also faces questions about his change-of-direction, a neck injury and limited route-running ability. Metcalf, at least early in his career, projects as a home-run hitter.

Deebo Samuel, South Carolina: An excellent open-field runner who returned four kicks for touchdowns in college, Samuel’s another strong, quick player with good body control who will likely excel out of the slot, and he possesses the ability to pick up yards after the catch that the Colts receivers struggled to get last season.

Defensive line

Chase Winovich, Michigan: Known as a polished, high-motor player who was productive for the Wolverines, Winovich proved at the Combine that he has better speed and athleticism than expected, running a 4.59-second 40-yard dash. The Colts like speed off the edge, and he’s got an incredible motor.

Dre’Mont Jones, Ohio State: Athletic and tall, Jones has the kind of foot quickness and get-off to make plays as a penetrator, and he had an 8.5-sack performance in putting it all together in his final season with the Buckeyes. Jones has the kind of quickness Indianapolis likes on the defensive line.

D’Andre Walker, Georgia: Walker projects as an outside linebacker for a lot of teams, but the Colts like speed off the edge, and Indianapolis has proven in the past by drafting Kemoko Turay that a player doesn’t have to be incredibly heavy to play defensive end in this scheme.

Cornerback

Byron Murphy, Washington: The biggest knock on Murphy, a productive, instinctive player who tackles well, is a lack of top-end speed, an weakness that is mitigated in the Indianapolis defense by the zone the Colts play and the help over the top it offers. Many expected him to be the top cornerback taken.

Rock Ya-Sin, Temple: Another player who was widely considered a first-round possibility, Ya-Sin has good size and toughness, but he’s a little raw and might need some time to develop.

Joejuan Williams, Vanderbilt: Williams is one of the biggest cornerbacks in the class, a 6-4 player who also enough ball skills that he made four interceptions as a junior. Most importantly, Williams is a physical tackler, a must for cornerbacks in the Colts’ scheme.

Safety

Taylor Rapp, Washington: Rapp is one of the most versatile safeties in the class, a heavy hitter in the run game who also has the ability to play in zone coverage and matched up against tight ends and slot receivers, all things the Colts require their safeties to do in difficult roles.

Juan Thornhill, Virginia: Thornhill, like Rapp, can do a little bit of everything, and he’s arguably the best defensive back in the entire class at producing turnovers, a key element of the Indianapolis defense. Thornhill finished his college career with a whopping 13 interceptions, an area where the Colts can improve.

Chauncey Gardner-Johnson, Florida: Another versatile defensive back with good ball skills who has just about all of the skills the Colts require of their safeties, and he’s got excellent speed to cover ground in the open field.